In recent years there has been an explosion of interest in organic and biodynamic produce. Although once marginal and 'alternative', escalating concerns about the environment, health, food quality and animal welfare have brought organics into mainstream consciousness. Biodynamics, a unique development of the organic approach, does not narrowly focus on agricultural techniques. It was conceived as a new way of thinking about farming, nutrition and the world of nature, allowing for a revitalized relationship with the living soil, the elemental world and the cosmos. Originating from a series of eight lectures given by Dr Rudolf Steiner in 1924, biodynamics broadens the outlook of agriculture and the science behind it, leading to a holistic perspective that incorporates astronomical rhythms and unique preparations for plants and earth. The author describes the foundations on which not only biodynamics but also the wider organic movement is based. He builds bridges between mainstream science and Steiner's insights, making it easier for the wider organic and ecological movement to approach biodynamic concepts and practise. This book has much to offer to the beginner as well as to those already involved with biodynamics. Its broad range of topics - including the ecology of the farm organism, food quality and nutrition, community supported agriculture, planetary influences, seed quality, and the vitality of water - contribute to a deeper understanding of the subject. The author is also concerned to promote innovation so that biodynamics moves with the times. An appendix includes details for contacting various elements of the biodynamic world. DR RICHARD THORNTON SMITH was formerly a geography professor at the University of Leeds, specializing in soil science, environment and conservation. Widely travelled, he has a long-standing interest in indigenous and sustainable farming. He was introduced to the work of Rudolf Steiner at an early age, although his full involvement with biodynamics dates from 1990 when he began to participate in training programmes and workshops at Emerson College, Sussex. In 1996 he began a biodynamic extension programme in Sri Lanka, for which he published a book, most recently updated in 2007. Since 2001 he has been an inspector for the Biodynamic Association's Demeter and Organic Certification in the UK. In 2003 he produced an edited selection of Steiner's work relating to agriculture. He is currently a council member of the Biodynamic Agricultural Association, and lives in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire.

Lectures from the founder of Camphill which address fundamental and increasingly relevant questions about the nutritional quality of our food.

Drawing on research and Rudolf Steiner's Spiritual Science, this book by Gerhard Schmidt, M.D. looks at nutrition, offering a new dynamic view of humanity and the world -- and of food as a community-building force. Concerned with the problems resulting from the modern viewpoint of nutrition and the research of modern science, this book examines the fundamental and general aspects of nutrition. Schmidt makes the case that continued healthy human development will require us to re-conceptualize our understandings of nutrition, to find "a new light of consciousness to illumine our conception." Topics include: Basic questions of nutrition Nutritional research through Steiner's Spiritual Science What is the purpose of nutrition? General aspects of the physiology of nutrition Smell and taste: spices and aromatic substances Rhythm in nutrition; Raw and cooked foods Foods -- dietary substances -- medicinal substances Nutrition from the realm of plants, nutrition from the realm of animals Nutrition and spiritual life Nutrition and soul life Community-building through the meal The history of human nutrition The development of nutrition in the age of technology

Our instinctive knowledge of which foods are helpful and which are harmful appears increasingly to be fading. We are bombarded with advice, information and prescriptions as to what we should eat and drink, but the issues surrounding nutrition - questions of health, diet, taste, even ecology and sustainability - remain largely unresolved.Unlike most commentators on this subject, Rudolf Steiner tackles the theme of nutrition in a refreshingly open way. At no point does he try to tell us what we should or should not be putting into our bodies - whether with regard to an omnivorous or vegetarian diet, smoking, drinking alcohol, and so on. The job of the scientist, he says, is to explain how things act and what effect they have; what people do with that information is up to them. However, he emphasizes that our diet not only determines our physical wellbeing, but can also promote or hinder our inner spiritual development.In this carefully collated anthology, with an introduction, commentary and notes by Christian von Arnim, Rudolf Steiner considers nutrition in the light of his spiritual-scientific research. He explains the impact of raw food, vegetarian and meat diets, the effects of protein, fats, carbohydrates and salts, individual foodstuffs such as potatoes, beetroots and radishes, as well as the impact of alcohol and nicotine. His insights are vital to anybody with a serious interest in health, diet and spiritual development.

The planets and their effect on the human race are at the heart of this stellar collection of provocative science fiction short stories, Adventures in the Cosmos by Darryl L. Gopaul. A second menacing moon appears in one story, which awakens powerful new forces on Earth. In another story, humanoids venture onto Earth and start to behave very differently than they usually do, right up until the moment they are called back to their home planet. In other stories, humans face a new biological phenomenon or gain new abilities, like telepathy. Hinting that strange, powerful forces are quietly guiding humans on Earth, Gopaul probes the possibilities that exist in the deepest pockets of outer space and right here on our home planet. Inspiring, stunning, and sometimes shocking, Adventures in the Cosmos shows that while the universe is our new frontier, it will take not just bravado but understanding to conquer or control it. A thinking person's collection of sci fi, Adventures in the Cosmos is both beautifully written and bolstered by the expertise of Gopaul, who is a microbiologist. In story after story, he prods you to see the earth, the planets, and yourself in new and original ways.

Based on a series of eight lectures by Rudolf Steiner in 1924, the movement for biodynamic agriculture today involves many hundreds of farms and millions of consumers worldwide. Much has been written about the unique perspectives of biodynamic methods for farming, nutrition, the world of nature, and the wider cosmos. But how does it work in practice? What is it like to run a farm based on its principles? England's Tablehurst and Plaw Hatch farms are a cooperative venture in which the local community plays a crucial role. As successful commercial enterprises with large production, they have a growing reputation for the excellence of their produce. Through interviews, commentary, and dozens of full-color photos, Biodynamics in Practice offers a guided tour of the farms from the view of a sympathetic visitor. It illustrates how biodynamic farms work, how they differ from conventional and organic farms, and why that difference is important. In short and accessible vignettes, the book looks at many aspects of farm life, including animal rearing and welfare--cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry--crop growth, dairy, and cheese making, as well as beekeeping and the care of people with special needs. It also introduces biodynamics itself, with brief histories of the two farms. People often view farms simply as food-producing factories; this book, however, shows that they can be much more, offering spiritually sustaining focal points of community cohesion and participation.

This acclaimed guide to children's physical, psychological and spiritual development is now available in a fourth revised edition. Combining up-to-date medical advice with issues of development and education, this is a definitive guide for parents. This is the book for anyone who has ever wanted a deeper understanding of their children's illnesses, or sought a more holistic approach to children's health. As well as comprehensively covering medical issues, it also discusses parenting techniques, education, spirituality and play -- a truly integrated approach to all aspects of raising healthy children in the broadest sense. The authors have over 20 years' experience treating children at Herdecke Hospital, Germany, which is run using anthroposophical principles. The fourth edition includes updates on treatments for tonsilitis, croup, sunstroke and headlice. The section on vaccinations includes the latest recommendations including measles, meningococcal and HPV. There is also a new section on electromagnetic pollution, including mobile (cell) phones.